Cycling pedal device

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides in one aspect a cyclic pedal device comprising a sole portion comprising a first portion for reversible engagement with the foot of a cyclist and a second portion for reversible engagement with a pedal such that the device is fastened around the user&#39;s feet and footwear by means of a trivalent ankle fastening system. The device allows for practical bicycling performance. The device may allow cyclists to pursue a cycling activity and another non-cycling activity without the use of specialized bicycle footwear.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The rising use of bicycles for daily transport, recreation and sport coupled with increased general awareness of the environmental impact of some alternatives, has led to the renaissance of the bicycle. Cyclists often proceed by bicycle and then dismount to pursue various other activities. There continues to be a need for a way for bicyclists to readily swap between cycling and other means, such as walking or running while maintaining the greater effectiveness of riding which results from attaching the feet in some way to the pedals.

As a whole the bicycling community is supplied with a variety of bicycling footwear and associated bicycle pedal systems however all have practical limitations. Previously various segments of the bicycling community have been described as these groups tend to employ different types of bicycle pedals, fastenings and shoes.

The limitations of specialized clipless bicycle shoes is that they are designed for bicycling performance and not for any other daily activity. Proceeding on foot in specialized clipless bicycle shoes is uncomfortable dangerous and destructive to sensitive surfaces.

Bicycle pedals equipped with toe straps are an older generation of bicycle technology largely replaced by the superior technology of clipless bicycle pedals. Previous specialized bicycle shoes and pedals commonly equipped with toe straps required the user to actuate a fastening mechanism by hand.

A bicycle pedal and shoe-fastening device that requires actuation by hand is inherently dangerous. Bicycle pedals with toe straps are hazardous to actuate, unreliable and offer limited performance improvements. A bicyclist using bicycle pedals equipped with toe straps to fasten over standard shoes gains only marginal bicycling performance improvements as standard shoes do not have inflexible soles, a core feature of specialized bicycle shoes. Standard shoes fastened to a bicycle's pedals by toe straps readily detach, as only the tapering forefoot of the bicyclist's foot is fastened causing serious accidents. In order to actuate bicycle pedal toe straps to both attach and detach their shoes a bicyclist must perform a sequence of actions requiring skill and attention. To attach their shoes the bicyclists must, in turn for both sides of their bicycle, tilt their bicycle in order to lean down on either side of their bicycle so as to actuate the bicycle pedal's toe strap fasteners into a tight closed position around their shoes. While the bicyclist actuates the bicycle pedal toe straps they must also maintain balance, avoid getting clothing or body parts, particularly fingers, caught in the potentially moving parts of the bicycle, such as chain rings or rotating wheels and avoid other vehicles or objects in their path. In order to detach their shoes the bicyclist must actuate the bicycle pedal toe straps in a similar manner as to when attaching them, but actuate the straps into an open position.

In practice it is often impossible for a bicyclist to detach their shoes from their toe straps and pedals in an emergency situation. Bicyclists forcing their bicycle's pedals, whilst using toe straps, may suddenly detach from their toe straps and therefore their bicycles pedals thus leading to a risk of serious high speed accidents.

Bicycle pedals and toe straps do allow the user to wear standard shoes, and this can be attractive to users interested in either fashion or practical performance, however when employing bicycle toe straps to fasten standard shoes to a bicycle's pedals limited performance improvements are gained as standard shoes usually do not have inflexible soles, central to specialized bicycle shoes. Bicycle pedal toe straps are difficult to use. Bicycle pedal toe straps are hazardous to the user leaving a bicyclist exposed to a variety of physical risks, particularly fastening failure at speed or being struck by other vehicles whilst actuating bicycle pedal toe strap fastenings. Bicycle pedals and toe straps offer limited performance improvements.

Hybrid bicycle shoes have similar common traits with specialized clipless bicycle shoes. Hybrid bicycle shoes have cleats that are fastened onto their soles. Specialized bicycle shoes have inflexible soles, whilst hybrid bicycle shoes have similar, but semi-flexible soles intended to both facilitate improved cycling performance whilst flexing enough to allow reasonable performance whilst proceeding on foot.

Hybrid bicycle shoes have similar robust fasteners to those of specialized bicycle shoes, intended to firmly attach such shoes to the feet of the user so as to safely conduct and contain the forces involved whilst in use on a bicycle. Hybrid bicycle shoes are often well ventilated, similar to specialized bicycle shoes, designed to facilitate cooling of the users feet during robust activities.

As is common with compromise design solutions, hybrid bicycle shoes excel in neither of the functions which they are intended to perform. Hybrid bicycle shoes are inferior when compared to specialized bicycle shoes in terms of improving bicycling performance. By having semi-flexible soles hybrid bicycle shoes transfer less force less efficiently than specialized bicycle shoes. Hybrid bicycle shoes require greater skill to locate into clipless bicycle pedals, owing to their recessed cleats. When compared to standard shoes, hybrid bicycle shoes are problematic when performing tasks other than bicycling. Hybrid shoe's semi-flexible soles are uncomfortable when proceeding on foot for any distance. Hybrid bike shoes easily become wet as their ventilating materials offer little water resistance. Hybrid bicycle shoes still have cleat surfaces exposed which can easily damage floor surfaces as well as offering less grip than most standard shoes.

There are two common bicyclist's responses to the limitations of all current specialized bicycle pedal and shoe systems. The first is to carry two pairs of shoes, a pair of bicycle shoes and a pair of standard shoes. Cyclists who carry two pairs of shoes change between each pair of shoes where the respective merits of each pair of shoes best fit the user's activities, hence bicycle shoes for bicycling and standard shoes for other activities. Switching between pairs of shoes is inconvenient and cumbersome, requiring the bicyclist to secure and account for one pair of their shoes at all time, whilst the user is wearing their other pair of shoes.

The second common bicyclist's response to the limitations of all current specialized bicycle pedal and shoe systems is to simply avoid all current specialized bicycle pedal and shoe systems. Cyclists who make do with standard treadle bicycle pedals and standard shoes may well be interested in enhancing their bicycling performance. Cyclists who make do with standard treadle bicycle pedals and standard shoes may be most interested in practical performance yet find all specialized bicycle pedals and shoes unpractical, insecure, unsafe or unfashionable and so simply avoid using all bicycle shoes and specialized pedals.

Clipless bicycle pedals have been known in the art. Most of them however require the fastening system to be held in constant tension around the user's foot or footwear, thereby making such a device uncomfortable, inefficient and dangerous having substantial potential for the user's feet and footwear to disengage when not desired. For example, FR 2888205 discloses a clipless bicycle pedal comprising of a device with front and rear fasteners that are fastened to inflexible plates that can fasten bicycle clipless pedal cleats; such that the fastening system must be held in constant tension around the rear of the user's ankles. However, this allows the user's feet and footwear to dislocate approximately tangentially to the axis making such a device uncomfortable, inefficient and dangerous having substantial potential for the user's feet and footwear to disengage when not desired.

Another clipless bicycle pedal devise is described by patent NL10161151 comprising an inflexible sole plates that clipless pedal cleats can be fastened, with toe covers and backstops at right angles to the ankle areas of inflexible sole plates, with fasteners that are held in constant tension around the user's feet and footwear. Again, since this relies on the user's feet and footwear being held in constant tension along a single axis it is found that when force is applied approximately tangentially to the axis that the device is fastened that great potential exists for dislocation pinching and disengagement of the user's feet and footwear from the device.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,005 discloses a clipless bicycle pedal comprising of inflexible sole plates that bicycle pedal cleats can be attached with toe covers and backstops at right angles to the ankle areas of the described device's inflexible sole plates and fasteners that are held in constant tension around the user's feet and footwear. This is found to be uncomfortable and dangerous as the potential exists for accidental disengagement of the user's feet and footwear.

DE 4241270 discloses inflexible sole plates that are adjustable in length that fasten a fastening system consisting of toe fasteners and ankle fasteners and backstops at right angles to the ankle areas of inflexible sole plates, sole plates that can fasten clipless bicycle pedal cleats. The ankle fasteners are held in constant tension around the user's feet and footwear forcing the user's feet and footwear against backstops.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a cyclic pedal device comprising a sole portion, a first portion for reversible engagement with the foot of a cyclist and a second portion for reversible engagement with a pedal such that the device is substantially fastened around the user's feet and footwear by means of a trivalent ankle fastening system. The ankle fastening system in accordance with the present invention may comprise of a number of integrated aspects which in concert form the devices ankle fastening system.

In one embodiment of the invention, the ankle fastening system comprises of two sides positioned along two separate axis from two points that extend from either sides of the sole plates to the center of rotation of the users ankle.

The two sides of the ankle fastening system may be fastened to the sole plates at approximately right angles on each side of the sole plate.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the ankle fastening system comprises two portions that form arcs around the user's ankle such that, in an engaged position, one arc fastens the user's feet and footwear in the front of the user's ankle over the user's forefoot and the other aspect forms an arc that fastens the user's feet and footwear behind the users ankle.

Preferably, the sole plate is substantially inflexible

In another embodiment, the cyclic pedal device further comprising cutouts or holes in the sole plates.

The cyclic pedal devices in accordance with the invention may be used for any suitable type of cycle, but most preferably a bicycle.

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a cyclic pedal device comprising a sole portion, a first portion for reversible engagement with the foot of a cyclist and a second portion for reversible engagement with a pedal such that the device is substantially fastened around the user's feet and footwear by means of a trivalent ankle fastening system. The ankle fastening system in accordance with the present invention may comprise of a number of integrated aspects which in concert form the devices ankle fastening system.

In one aspect of the invention, the ankle fastening system comprises of two sides that are fastened to the sole plates at approximately right angles, on the right and left sides of each of the sole plates. The two sides of the ankle fastening system are positioned along two separate axis from two points that extend from the sole plates to the center of rotation of the users ankle's. The two sides of the device's ankle fastening system provide an integrated brace between sole plates and the other aspects of the ankle fastening system.

In another aspect of the invention, the ankle fastening system comprises of a fastening system which further comprises of two portions which form arcs around the user's ankle such that, in an engaged position, one arc fastens the user's feet and footwear in the front of the user's ankle over the user's forefoot and the other aspect forms an arc that fastens the user's feet and footwear behind the users ankle.

The toe fastening system is preferably fastened towards the front of the sole plate. In another preferred embodiment, the fastening closure allows the user to easily engage and disengage their feet and footwear.

The closures and fasteners in accordance to the present invention can be selected from but not limited to lacing, velcro or various clipping and locking mechanisms. Preferably, the device in accordance with this invention ankle fastening system integrates the aspects that brace the user's feet and footwear at approximately 90 degrees on both left and right sides of the sole plates. Both the aspects of the ankle fastening system form two arcs that fasten around the user's ankles at approximately 120 degree divisions around the rotational center of the user's ankles.

In another preferred embodiments, the device may be readily reversibly disengaged from one or both of the foot or pedal for continued use.

In some embodiments, the device may be worn engaged with the foot while disengaged from the pedal.

Any suitable engagement may be used between the device and a foot. For example, in some embodiments, the device engages with footwear worn by the user. In these embodiments, engagement may be effected for example by straps, laces, Velcro, clips, slot mechanisms or in any other suitable way.

Similarly, any suitable engagement may be used between the device and the pedal. For example, in some embodiments comprise a cleat, straps, laces, Velcro, clips, slot mechanisms or in any other suitable way.

The various components of the invention may be made from any suitable materials. In some embodiments, the inflexible sole plate is made from materials selected from but not limited to sheet metal, plastics, velcro, carbon fiber, kevlar or fiber glass. In another preferred embodiments, the sole plate in accordance with the invention is substantially inflexible

In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a cycling pedal device comprising an inflexible sole with a cleat attached to the base of the inflexible sole.

In another aspect there is provided a cycling pedal device comprising a cleat fastening mechanism that may fasten into the soles of cycling pedal devices or into special fasteners most suitable for a variety of cleats.

In another preferred embodiment, the device in accordance with this invention comprises cutouts in the substantial inflexible sole plates. The said cutouts facilitate the securing of the device with any locking systems. This allows the device to be easily stowed whilst the user pursues activities other than cycling, thus relieving the user from the burden of carrying the device with them when the device is not in use.

In one such embodiment, the sole plates comprise a series of holes or cut outs in the ball of the foot so that various types of cleats can be fastened to cycling pedal devices, including, but not limited to, threading in the device itself, or by employing specialized fasteners.

Devices according to the present invention may be used for any suitable type of cycle, but most preferably a bicycle.

Cycling pedal devices in accordance with this invention bridge the disparate performance requirements of various cycling pedals and shoe systems, and standard footwear. The said devices in accordance with this invention are conveniently unfastened and removed from the bicyclist's feet once the bicyclist has dismounted from their bicycle, affording the cyclist the free use of standard shoes whilst proceeding on foot.

The devices in accordance with this invention, the ankle fastening system is sufficient to conduct the user's force whilst forcing clipless pedals as well as to allow the user to pivot their feet, footwear and device around the center of clipless pedal cleats so as to disengage the user's feet, footwear and device from clipless pedals, this functionality allows for considerable flexibility within the device's toe fastening system. The ankle fastening system and substantially inflexible sole plates in concert, are at once mechanically locked around the users ankle in a manner that requires no constant mechanical tension to remain fastened whilst providing firm support so as to facilitate the transfer of force from the user into a bicycles clipless pedals throughout the complete 360 degree rotation of a cyclists feet and footwear whilst the user forces a bicycle's pedals.

A device in accordance with this invention allows considerable flexibility within its fastening systems, particularly within the device's toe fasteners relative position whilst engaged, allowing for a variety of user's feet sizes and footwear to b e comfortably, efficiently and safely fastened around the user's feet and footwear and fastened into clipless pedals whilst being easily disengaged, from bicycle clipless pedals, and disengaged from around the users feet and footwear.

Throughout this specification (including any claims that follow), unless the context requires otherwise, the word ‘comprise’, and variations such as ‘comprise’ and ‘comprising’, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of a right foot of a pair of a clipless bicycle pedal devices.

FIG. 2 is a perspective bottom view of a right foot of a pair of a clipless bicycle pedal devices.

FIG. 3 is a perspective bottom view of a bicyclists bicycling whilst employing a pair of clipless bicycle pedal devices.

FIG. 4 is a partial view of a bicyclist bicycling whilst employing a pair of clipless bicycle pedal devices, the bicyclist's right foot is pushing down on the bicycle's right pedal rotating around the center of the bicycles cranks, the bicyclists left foot is pulling up on the bicycle's left pedal rotating around the center of the bicycle's cranks.

FIG. 5 is a partial view of a bicyclist bicycling whilst employing a pair of clipless bicycle pedal devices, the bicyclist's right foot is completing pushing down on the bicycle's right pedal rotating around the center of the bicycle's cranks transitioning to pulling up on the bicycle's right pedal rotating around the center of the bicycle's cranks, the bicyclist's left foot is completing pulling up on the bicycle's left pedal rotating around the center of the bicycle's cranks transitioning to pushing down on the bicycle's left pedal down rotating around the center of the bicycle's cranks.

FIG. 6 is a partial view of a bicyclists bicycling whilst employing a pair of clipless bicycle pedal devices, the bicyclist's right foot is pulling up on the bicycle's right pedal rotating around the center of a bicycles cranks, the bicyclists left foot is pushing down on the bicycle's left pedal rotating around the center of the bicycle's cranks.

FIG. 7 is a perspective top view of a typical urban street scene depicting a bicyclists bicycling whilst employing a pair of clipless bicycle pedal devices approaching a point at that the bicyclists will dismount and proceed on foot.

FIG. 8 is a perspective top view of a typical urban street scene depicting a bicyclists unstrapping a pair of clipless bicycle pedal devices in preparation to secure their bicycle, helmet, and clipless bicycle pedal devices so as to proceed on foot unencumbered.

FIG. 9 is a perspective top view of a typical urban street scene depicting a bicyclists having secured their bicycle, helmet, and clipless bicycle pedal device proceeding on foot unencumbered.

FIG. 10 is a perspective top view of a typical urban street scene depicting a bicyclists strapping a pair of clipless bicycle pedal devices around their standard shoes in preparation to resume bicycling.

FIG. 11 is a perspective top view of a typical urban street scene depicting a bicyclists resuming bicycling whilst employing a pair of clipless bicycle pedal devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 discloses one embodiment of the present invention comprising inflexible sole plates 1 with holes through the ball of the foot 2 for the attachment of cleats for clipless bicycle pedal systems 4, fasteners to attaching clip less bicycle pedal cleat blocks 3. An ankle strapping system 5 and a forefoot strapping system 6 secures the clipless bicycle pedal devices around shoes the strapping system is closed by a buckle or other closures found to be most suitable 7, 8. The inflexible sole 1, comprising a cut out towards the heel 9 so that a bicycle lock may be passed through a pair of clipless bicycle pedal devices so as to secure clipless bicycle pedal devices when not in use.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention comprising inflexible sole plates 10 with holes through the ball of the foot 11 for the attachment of cleats 12, for various clipless bicycle pedal systems, specialized clipless bicycle pedal cleat fasteners 13 an ankle strapping system 14 and a forefoot strapping system 15 secures a pair of clipless bicycle pedal devices around a pair of shoes the strapping system is closed by buckles or other closures found to be most suitable 16, 17. Inflexible sole plates 10, having a cut outs towards the heel 18 so that a bicycle lock may be passed through clipless bicycle pedal devices so as to secure clipless bicycle pedal devices when not in use.

FIG. 3 shows a bicyclists 19 riding a bicycle 20 wearing standard shoes 21, 22. A pair of clipless bicycle pedal devices 23,24, are firmly fastened around the bicyclists standard shoes 21, 22 a pair of clipless bicycle pedal devices 23,24, that are firmly fastened to a bicycles 20 clipless pedals 25,26.

FIG. 4 discloses a partial view of a bicyclist's right clipless bicycle pedal device 27, right shoe 28, right leg and foot 29, and left clipless bicycle pedal device 30 right shoe 31, left leg and foot 32 whilst riding a bicycle. The bicyclists right leg and foot 29, is pushing down on the bicycle's right clipless pedal 33 and right crank 34 rotating around 35, the bicycle's cranks center of rotation 36, the bicyclists left leg and foot 32, is pulling up, on the bicycle's left clipless pedal 37, and left crank 38 rotating around 39, the bicycle's cranks center of rotation 36. Various features of the the right clipless bicycle pedal device 28, are substantially conducting the force of the bicyclist's right leg and foot 29, the forward top area of the ankle fastener of the right clipless bicycle pedal device 40, the lower area of the ankle fastener 41, of the right clipless bicycle pedal device 28, that is fixed at approximate right angles to the right bicycle pedal device's substantially inflexible sole plate 42, the right clipless bicycle pedal device's 28, toe strap 43, and the right clipless bicycle pedal device's 28, right cleat 44, are in concert, conducting the bicyclist's right leg and foot's 29, force into the bicycle's right clipless pedal 33, and crank 34, all the right clipless bicycle pedal device's 28, features are in concert fastening the bicyclist's right leg and foot 29 and shoe 28, into the right clip less pedal 33, and crank 34. The bicyclists left leg and foot 32, is pulling up on the bicycle's, left clipless pedal 37, and crank 38 rotating around 39, the center of rotation of the bicycle's crank 36. Various features of the left clipless bicycle pedal device 31, are substantially conducting the bicyclists left leg and foot's 32, force into the bicycle's, left clipless pedal 37, and left crank 38, the top forward area of the left ankle fastener 45, and the rear top area of the left ankle fastener 46 of the left bicycle clipless pedal device 31, the lower area 47, of the left bicycle clipless pedal device 30, are fastened around the bicyclist's left shoe 31, the lower area 47 of the left bicycle clipless pedal device 30, is fixed at approximate right angles to the left clipless bicycle pedal device's 30, substantially inflexible sole plate 48, in concert with the left clip less bicycle pedal device's 30, left cleat 49, are conducting the bicyclist's left leg and foot's 32, force into the bicycle's, left clipless pedals 37, and cranks 38, all the left clip less bicycle pedal device's 30, features are in concert securely fastening the bicyclist's left leg and foot 32, and left shoe 31,into the left clipless pedal 37.

FIG. 5 discloses another embodiment of a bicycle clipless bicycle pedal device. A partial view of a right bicycle pedal device 50,a bicyclists right shoe 51, and right leg and foot 52, and left bicycle clipless pedal device 53, left shoe 54, and left leg and foot 55 whilst riding a bicycle. The bicyclist's right leg and foot 52, is at the base of rotation of the right pedal 56, and crank 57, rotating around 58, the bicycle's cranks center of rotation 59, transitioning from a pushing down on the bicycle's right pedal 56, and crank 57, into pulling up on the bicycle's right pedal 56, and crank 57, rotating around 58, the bicycle's cranks center of rotation 59. The bicyclist's left leg and foot 55, is at the apex of rotation of the left pedal 60,and crank 61, rotating around 62, the bicycle's cranks center of rotation 59, the bicylist's left leg and foot 55, is transitioning from a pulling up on the left pedal 60, and crank 61, rotating around 62, the bicycle's crank center of rotation 59, into pushing down on the bicycle's left clipless pedal 60, and left crank 61, rotating around 62, the bicycle's cranks center of rotation 59. Various features of the the left clipless bicycle pedal device 53, are substantially conducting the bicyclist, force, the front top area of the left clipless bicycle pedal device's ankle fastener 63, the lower area of the left clipless bicycle pedal device's ankle fastener 64, that is braced at approximate right angles to the left clip less bicycle pedal device's 53, substantially inflexible left sole plate 65, the left clipless bicycle pedal device's left toe strap 66, and the left clipless bicycle pedal device's left cleats 67, are in concert, conducting the bicyclist's force into the bicycle's left clipless pedal 60, all the left bicycle pedal device's 53, features are in concert securely fastening the bicyclist's left foot to the left clipless pedals 60. The bicyclist's right leg and foot 52, is at the base of rotation of the right clipless pedal 56, and left crank 57, rotating around 58, the bicycle's crank center of rotation 59, transitioning into pulling up on the bicycle's right clip less pedal 56, and right crank 57, rotating around 58, the bicycle's crank center of rotation 59. Various features of the right clipless bicycle pedal device 50,are substantially conducting the bicyclist's force into the bicyclist's right clip less pedal 56, and right crank 57, the rear top area of the right clipless bicycle pedal device's ankle fastener 67, the lower area of the right clipless bicycle pedal device's ankle fastener 68, that is braced at approximate right angles to the right bicycle pedal device's substantially inflexible sole plate 69, and the right clip less bicycle pedal device's right cleat 70, are in concert, conducting the bicyclist's right leg and foot 52, force into the bicyclists right clipless pedal 56, and right crank 57, all the right bicycle pedal device's 50, features are, in concert, securely fastening the bicyclist's right foot and leg 52, to the right clip less pedal 56.

FIG. 6 shows a partial view of a right clipless bicycle pedal device 70, a bicyclist's right shoe 71, right leg and foot 72, a left clipless bicycle pedal device 73, and left shoe 74, and left foot and leg 75, whilst riding a bicycle. The bicyclist's left foot and leg 75, is pushing down on the bicycle's left clip less pedal 76, and left crank 77, rotating around 78, the bicycle's crank center of rotation 79, the bicyclist's right leg and foot 72, is pulling up on the bicycle's right clipless pedal 80, and right crank 81, rotating around 82, the bicycle's crank center of rotation 79. Various features of the the left clipless bicycle pedal device 73, are substantially conducting the bicyclist's force, the forward top area of the left bicycle pedal device's ankle fastener 83, the lower area of the left bicycle pedal device's ankle fastener 84, that is braced at approximate right angles to the left bicycle pedal device's 73, substantially inflexible sole plate 85, the left clipless bicycle pedal device's toe strap 86, and the left clipless bicycle pedal device's left cleat 87, are in concert, conducting the bicyclist's force into the bicycle's left clipless pedal 76, and left crank 77, all the left bicycle pedal device's 73, features are in concert securely fastening the bicyclist's left leg and foot 75, to the left clipless pedal 76. The bicyclist's right leg and foot 72, is pulling up on the bicycle's right clipless pedal 80, and crank 81. Various features of the right clip less bicycle pedal device 70, are substantially conducting the bicyclist's right leg and foot's 72, force into the bicyclist's right clipless pedal 80, and right crank 81, the forward top area of the right bicycle pedal device's ankle fastener 88, the top rear area of the right bicycle pedal device's ankle fastener 89, the lower area of the bicycle pedal device's right ankle fastener 90, that is fixed at approximate right angles to the right bicycle pedal device's substantially inflexible sole plate 91, the right clipless bicycle pedal device's 70, right cleat 92, are conducting the bicyclist's force into the right clip less pedal 80, all the right bicycle pedal device's 70, features are in concert securely fastening the bicyclist's right leg and foot 72, and right shoe 71, to the right clipless pedal 80.

FIG. 7 shows a bicyclists 93, riding in an urban environment of buildings 94, 95, footpaths 96, 97, streets 98, and lane ways 99. A bicyclists 93, turning off a street 93, in preparation to secure their bicycle 100, to a convenient urban street structure, in this example a sign post 101. A bicyclist 93, who is secured into their bicycles pedals by their shoes and feet 102, 103, in accordance with the function of a pair of clipless bicycle pedal devices 104,105.

Referring to FIG. 8, another embodiment of clipless bicycle pedal devices is provided. A bicyclists 106, in an urban environment of buildings 107, 108, footpaths 109, streets 110, and lane ways 111. A bicyclists 106, unstrapping the left foot of a clip less bicycle pedal device 112. The bicyclist 106, right bicycle clipless pedal device 113, and helmet 114 have been unstrapped in preparation to be secured with the bicycle 115, to a street sign 116.

FIG. 9 refers to a preferred embodiment of a bicycle clipless bicycle pedal device. A bicyclists 117, in an urban environment of buildings 118, 119, footpaths 120, streets 121 and lane ways 122. A bicyclists 117, walking away from their bicycle 123, that is secured by a bicycle lock 124, to a street sign 125. The bicycle lock 124, is also securing the bicyclists 117, bicycle helmet 126, as well as a pair of clipless bicycle pedal devices 127, 128, leaving the bicyclists 117, free to proceed on foot unencumbered by any bicycling paraphernalia.

FIG. 10 shows a bicyclists 129, in an urban environment of buildings 130, 131, footpaths 132, streets 133, and lane ways 134. A bicyclists 129, strapping the right foot of a pair of bicycle clip less pedal devices 135, around their right foot. The left foot of a pair of bicycle clipless pedal devices 136, is yet to to be secured around the bicyclists 129, left foot in preparation to secure the bicyclists 129, feet firmly into clipless bicycle pedals 137, 138, on the bicyclist 129, bicycle 139.

FIG. 11 describes another embodiment of a bicycle clipless bicycle pedal device. A bicyclists 140, riding in an urban environment of buildings 141, 142, footpaths 143, 144 streets 145, and lane ways 146. A bicyclists 140, riding onto a street 145. A bicyclist who is secured into their bicycles pedals 147, 148, in accordance with the function of a clipless bicycle pedal device, 149, 150.

It is convenient to describe the invention herein in relation to particularly preferred embodiments relating to clipless bicycle pedal devices. However, the invention is applicable to a wide range of clipless bicycle pedal devices and it is to be appreciated that other constructions and arrangements are also considered as falling within the scope of the invention. Various modifications, alterations, variations and or additions to the construction and arrangements described herein are also considered as falling within the ambit and scope of the present invention. 

1. A cyclic pedal device comprising a sole portion comprising a first portion for reversible engagement with the foot of a cyclist and a second portion for reversible engagement with a pedal such that the device is fastened around the user's feet and footwear by means of a trivalent ankle fastening system.
 2. A cyclic pedal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ankle fastening system comprises of two sides positioned along two separate axis from two points that extend from either sides of the sole plates to the center of rotation of the users ankle
 3. A cyclic pedal device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two sides of the ankle fastening system are fastened to the sole plates at approximately right angles on each side of the sole plate.
 4. A cyclic pedal device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ankle fastening system comprises of a fastening system comprising two portions that form arcs around the user's ankle such that, in an engaged position, one arc fastens the user's feet and footwear in the front of the user's ankle over the user's forefoot and the other aspect forms an arc that fastens the user's feet and footwear behind the users ankle.
 5. A cyclic pedal device of claim 1, wherein the sole plate is substantially inflexible
 6. A cyclic pedal device of claim 1 further comprising cutouts or holes in the sole plates.
 7. A cyclic pedal device of claim 1, where Devices according to the present invention may be used for any suitable type of cycle, but most preferably a bicycle. 